Inside Jenna Bush Hager’s Baby Shower

When Today contributorJenna Bush Hager — expecting her first child in early May — was fêted by her NBC co-workers on April 2 at the Peter Callahan Catering studio in New York, the gift table was piled not with onesies and receiving blankets, but with dozens of her colleagues’ favorite kiddie reads, each inscribed with parenting advice.

“Get a nap anytime you can,” advised former co-anchor Meredith Viera in a copy of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, while Hoda Kotb said Bush Hager only had to do whatever her own mom did.

Christopher Kolk

But Bush Hager’s parents — Laura and George W. Bush, the 43rd president — have been more than role models through this pregnancy. Mom swept into the lower Manhattan apartment Bush Hager shares with husbandHenry Hager last month to whip the nursery together.

“Put us all to work!” Bush Hager tells PEOPLE exclusively, describing a neutral seafoam-green color scheme because they do not know if they’re having a boy or a girl. (Shower guests wrote guesses on rolled-up cloth diapers; “Boy” was the majority pick.)

And Dad, who’s taken up painting in his post-White House life, contributed the artwork: a portrait of the Hagers’ cat, Bernadette, for over the crib; a landscape featuring a “baby tree” on his Texas ranch; and a still life of nightfall over the ranch’s stone cross where the Hagers were married in 2008. He titled that one “Goodnight Moon,” notes Bush Hager, 31, with a smile. “He’s become an artiste. There’s a whole new side of him and he’s so excited about the baby.”

Christopher Kolk

Goodnight Moon, the book, was also among Bush Hager’s shower gifts — this one from news anchor Natalie Morales, who said she made up a song to the repetitive bedtime story to keep it from getting boring as she read it “so many darn times” to her own two children.

And to really keep the boredom out of bedtime, Today producer Jackie Levin had a little something for Mom’s nightstand, too: E.L. James’ best-selling erotica, Fifty Shades of Gray. Hager laughed and glanced over at her husband: “That’s baby number two material!”

Christopher Kolk

Hager’s surprise cameo at the afternoon women’s soirée was greeted by a chorus of “Awwwww’s” that beat even the cooing over Callahan’s baby-sized vittles, that included caviar-topped cracker rings shaped like pacifiers and pizzas no bigger than checkers.

Bush Hager, who toasted her pals with one of Callahan’s teensie Coca-Cola bottles, told them she felt “empowered” by their parenting wisdom and promised to be back in the studio after a summer maternity leave.

“I’ll bring this baby to work — on the subway, I guess,” she said. “I haven’t figured that part out yet.”

I could do w/o the weird faces from Hoda and Kathie Lee. Love the last pic of mini Coke bottles and sliders–cute idea! Best wishes to Jenna and Henry!

Lorelei
on April 10th, 2013

Sad. How pathetic that you can spew your hate for people you don’t know. Regardless of any political differences it’s not an excuse to be so hateful. The mother to be looks lovely and I think a book shower with advice is an awesome idea!

Kayte
on April 10th, 2013

@Sad…What a perfect name. Pathetic would be better, though.

lovely123
on April 10th, 2013

Looks like someone is a professional hot dog eater in the first pic.

Cynda
on April 10th, 2013

How did this talentless lisper every get on TV? Oh, that’s right her dad was one of the most horrible presidents in history. I wonder if her child will know she was 1/2 of the “tarty party girls” known throughout the world as one who swilled vodka out of the bottle when she was underage. A role model, indeed.

Lauren
on April 10th, 2013

Cynda, as if you were perfect in your twenties! I’d rather see her and her husband procreating and raising children than Kim K, or half of Hollywood for that matter.

kmp
on April 10th, 2013

I want to see pictures of the painting papa Bush made.

Lorelei
on April 10th, 2013

Cynda- People do grow up and yes there even have been under age people drinking before. Get over it. She looks beautiful!

Marie
on April 10th, 2013

Cynda – wow and the hate continues. What a kind person you are, tolerance and compassion at work again! So nice to see.

Penny
on April 10th, 2013

Wow…what a class act, just like her parents! Congratulations to the entire family!

Penny
on April 10th, 2013

Wow…Sad and Cynda…jealous and pathetic much? Disgusting!

MollyF
on April 10th, 2013

I could comment to the hateful comments here, but that would be feeding the trolls, and I’m not a troll feeder anymore.

I’m not a big fan of her father’s, but I love Jenna. I hope the best for her and her husband. :)

Terri
on April 10th, 2013

Sad and Cynda and anyone else who is posting mean comments,…it is so pitiful that you feel you need to express negativity towards this family. I am assuming that you have nothing better to do than to downgrade others. Karma is not a nice thing. The Bush family is a wonderful group of people who do not deserve the ridicule of anyone. Please try to practice kindness, it is a wonderful virtue. Try it one day, you might like it.

Florence
on April 10th, 2013

what a great family the Bush family. I miss G W and his Laura in the White House. They represent America!!!!!!!

T Castleberry
on April 10th, 2013

Look how hypocritical Hoda is. What a smirky face. Blacks don’t like the Bush’s.

Sad – you are one sad and pathetic human being not to be able to celebrate the birth of a baby regardless of political affiliation. You also obviously are uninformed about the Bush family. What a surprise. Typical liberal: probably would have preferred the baby be aborted.

Sad – you are one sad and pathetic human being to not be able to celebrate the birth of a baby, regardless of politics. You also obviously know nothing about the Bush family – maybe you should try reading Goodnight Moon and moving up from there to grown up books. Typical liberal – would have probably preferred the baby be aborted than born to a Republican.

Thank GOD that when I was YOUNG and not using the good judgement my parents taught me it was not captured and recorded in history for the whole world to see. I was able to grow up and live down and and given the grace to live down what I had done . I perfer to extend that to others , we have all done things we were not proud of thank GOD It did not define who I was to become as it has not jenna or millions of other Teens

Mimy
on April 10th, 2013

I miss the Bush Family, I love them, congratulation Jenna
I miss them in white house.

cynthia welch-morrow
on April 10th, 2013

SHE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT! SHE’S MATURED INTO A VERY LOVELY WOMAN. BEST WISHES, AND STAY STRONG FOR YOUR FAMILY. P.S., KUDOS TO YOUR PARENTS, SAY HI TO YOUR MOM,
CINDY AND ARIEL.
IXOYE.

Anonymous
on April 10th, 2013

I seem to be the only one to think that the Bush’s need to stop reproducing! Sorry but I think I’ve had enough of them! IJS

KC
on April 10th, 2013

Sad, People like you make us liberals look bad. Don’t be so pathetic.

karen
on April 10th, 2013

Jenna’s style is fun and classic. She looks fabulous.

Cynda, what goes around comes around, so speak nice and it speaks nice about yourself. There is no such thing as a “perfect” kid. Wouldn’t that be boring?

Kim
on April 10th, 2013

Sad, you sound pretty lonely and pathetic yourself. Tell me, do you support Obama and why? Disability or welfare perhaps? Don’t you wish we had someone like Reagan in the White House right now? I sure do. Obama is making Bush look pretty good. George W. Bush was really an under-rated President and Obama would not have been able to handle 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina any better. George W. Bush has a beautiful family. Congrats on the baby Jenna!

meghan
on April 10th, 2013

@fogluver, nothing Sad said is typical liberal, thank you very much. You don’t have to be a conservative to see that George and Laura have been loving parents who have raised two wonderful daughters. You don’t have to be a conservative to think it is ridiculous to judge a thirty year old woman for her behavior at the age of eighteen. And no mentally stable liberal would suggest aborting a baby being carried by a Republican, for God’s sake. You realize you are generalizing the same way as the trolls, right? A lovely woman in a stable marriage is about to become a mother. That is all that should matter to anyone. Anyone grinding a political ax is a troll and should be ignored.

Maureen
on April 10th, 2013

I miss the Bush family too. I have heard nothing but good things about them from people that know them, and those who worked in the White House and on Air Force One. They are much more humble than the Obamas too. Jenna and Barbara are both educated, graceful, established professionals. Good job George and Laura.

Barbie Sue
on April 10th, 2013

Jenna looks so beautiful, just glowing! All the best to her, her baby’s daddy, and Jenna’s parents. The cutest baby shower refreshments ever! WHERE did the caterer find those adorable, teeney Coca-Cola bottles? And the cake? Absolutely perfect!

Sandy
on April 10th, 2013

Hire a good nanny- your going to need it! Baby’s do not do good at work!

Pearls
on April 10th, 2013

This is about the Jenna, what does either Pres Obama, or Pres Bush have to do with it

Gayle
on April 10th, 2013

Would love to see the painting that Grandpa drew. Are they going to be in the issue?

l
on April 10th, 2013

Please fire her …she is horrible as a broadcaster.Now is the best after giving her a shower.

pelicans
on April 10th, 2013

Sad…typical hateful comment from a liberal…congrats to the bush family and their little one on his/her way….

Phyllis Boyse
on April 10th, 2013

I wish Jenna and Henry all the best with the baby. God Bless you and your entire family.

Kate
on April 10th, 2013

@Sad, I’d like to see what you look like. Taking a happy occasion to just bash people. This isn’t a political story but one about a baby shower. Grow up.

elg
on April 10th, 2013

Terrible political times with George Bush, but sad to never forget it ever. Good Luck to Jenna and Henry, hope all is great. What is the baby, nobody says yet? Hope for whatever they get is good health all round.

JOAN ELIZABETH GRAHAM
on April 11th, 2013

CONGRATS JEN. YOU ARE SO CUTE AND I BET YOUR FATHER AND GRANDFATHER ARE DELITED, OF COURSE YOUR THE ONE GIVING THEM A GIFT TO LOVE AS LONG AS THEY LIVE, I AM A BUSH SUPPORTER, WE WISH JEB WOULD RUN NEXT TIME LOVE AND BEST WISHES JONI

Terry
on April 11th, 2013

she looks just like her dad. Yikes.

Marky
on April 11th, 2013

Jenna looks absolutely adorable pregnant! Those who actualy KNOW the Bushs have nothing but nice things to say about them and frankly their daughters turned out just fine. Enough with bashing anyone! Could we PLEASE bring back some civility and class to our society? I am tired of “it’s my opinion and I get to say it!” attitudes; just because you can, doesn’t mean you should……

Congratulation to Jenna and Henry, and I hope they have a healthy happy baby! S/he will have a fantastic set of grandparents and ggrandparents doting on him/her. Whether I agree or disagree politically, both have been good and loving parents to their children.

Ayla
on April 11th, 2013

@Terri: “The Bush family is a wonderful group of people who do not deserve the ridicule of anyone.”

I actually have troubles to know if there’s some sarcasm in this sentence. It is scary that someone can refer to Bush as a wonderful person. The fact that this ignorant, dumb man was at one point elected as the US president makes me question people’s intelligence.

As for this girl, nothing in particular against her, and I don’t think her past mistakes need to be brought up for the rest of her life (we’ve all been young and stupid at some point), but she is where she is because of who her daddy is. I tend to be indifferent towards people who don’t earn things with their effort.

So she’s having a baby? So are million of other women. The difference is that this one will just be another privileged spoiled kid, that I couldn’t care less about.

Lana
on April 11th, 2013

Yeah, Florence. They represent America and no-one likes it (besides the Americans…US Americans themselves). Bush was a desaster for America’s reputation. And the US still hasn’t fully recovered.

BUT: This is not about politics. It’s about a baby. Congrats to Jenna, she looks radiant.

cherise
on April 11th, 2013

just as i thought republicans praising the daughter of the worst president in history! disgusting!

cherise
on April 11th, 2013

@Maureen The bush’s have no idea what it is to be humble disgusting! They need lessons in being humble among other things I didn’t vote for Obama this family is sickening!

Vee
on April 11th, 2013

Jenna looks beautiful. Wishing them a happy, healthy baby. :)

Brescia
on April 11th, 2013

What a wonderful example this is showing America on how life really is. Beautiful.

Good luck to all the Bush family.

Kayte
on April 11th, 2013

@Ayla–Your post made me laugh. Why are you reading (and commenting) on a celebrity baby blog if you couldn’t care less? Good one.

Guest
on April 11th, 2013

Kim K should take a lesson from Jenna. Her maternity wear looks really nice on her!!

Jeri Kirby
on April 11th, 2013

I saw Jenna on the news and thought she looked so very pretty and she had that “glow” about her. Was so very glad to see that she has excellent taste in her maternity clothes too. She looked like a lady.

Ayla
on April 12th, 2013

@Kayte – I said that I couldn’t care less about this girl and her baby, not celebrity babies in general. Learn to read, please.

I love that when someone has a negative opinion about something, the standard reply is ‘why are you even here if you don’t like this?’. It’s funny how quickly people feel attacked and try to dissmiss others instead of giving a well-reasoned argument.